Maverick County commission proceeds with slightly lower 2024–25 tax rate and approves budget amendments

The Maverick County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Sept. 16 to proceed with a proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2024–25 that the court and staff said would be lower than last year’s rate.

County Judge (presiding) presented a tax-rate calculation worksheet prepared by the tax office and said the proposed total tax rate would be 0.394529 per $100 valuation, down from 0.412198 the prior year. "The tax rate would bring approximately almost about a 2¢ decrease in the tax," the County Judge said during the meeting. Tax staff told the court the calculation used data from the appraisal district, Union Pacific and the auditor’s office and followed the state truth-in-taxation process.

Commissioner Rivas moved to proceed with the tax rate as presented; Commissioner Ramos seconded. The County Judge then called the question and asked members to raise their hands; the court approved the motion unanimously.

The meeting also included routine fiscal actions. The commissioners approved budget amendments for fiscal year 2023–24 that, the judge said, include a transfer from account 339 to finalize projects tied to legal questions related to the Las Quinto's Boulevard drainage project. Commissioner Morales moved to approve the budget amendments and Commissioner Rios seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Officials also approved the accounts payable list and a short warrants-pending list after motions and unanimous votes. No commissioner raised substantive objections during the votes and the court adjourned after completing the listed business.

The tax office requested the court proceed so staff could prepare a balanced proposed budget for the court’s next meeting in September. No formal adoption of the rate was recorded at this meeting beyond the court’s unanimous agreement to proceed with the presented rate.